Members can attend Computers in Libraries at reduced rates through MLS’ membership in Lyrasis.

Please note new dates for the conference:

Due to unforeseen circumstances at the Hilton Washington, the conference hotel, Computers in Libraries will now be April 27-29, about 4 weeks later than originally announced. Preconference workshops will take place on April 26 followed by two full days of exhibits on April 27 and 28.

The Massachusetts Library System (MLS) bestowed the first ever Stronger Together Award upon the Wellesley Free Library. The Stronger Together Award celebrates a Massachusetts library or group of libraries, an individual or group of individuals, or a professional organization that contributes to strengthening the Massachusetts library community. Wellesley Free Library was chosen for its contributions serving on professional committees, sharing best practices of progressive children’s services, broad programming to immigrant populations, active support of the Massachusetts eBook Pilot Project and grassroots efforts to support career networking. This work was actively shared widely.

The Stronger Together Award was presented November 3 during the MLS annual business meeting at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. Staff and trustees of the Wellesley Free Library were on hand to accept the award. Elise MacLennan, Assistant Director of the Wellesley Free Library had this to say: “We’re so pleased to be recognized! It’s flattering, and it’s also an incentive for everyone at WFL to continue to say ‘yes’ to participating in new initiatives, and to providing the very best library service to our patrons and colleagues, day in and day out.”

“We are pleased to present this award to the Wellesley Free Library because its staff reached outside their traditional community to promote high-quality library services across the Commonwealth,” said Greg Pronevitz, MLS Executive Director.

Representatives of the Wellesley Free Library accepting the Stronger Together Award.

MLS E.D. Greg Pronevitz is the co-author with Minitex Director Valerie Horton of a new publication, Library Consortia: Models for Collaboration and Sustainability (ALA, 2014).

Its six chapters and seventeen case studies span a variety of collaborative projects undertaken by consortia across the country. Among the contributors are several Massachusetts librarians: Tracey Leger-Hornby, Jay Schafer, and MLS’ own Kelly Jo Woodside and Deborah Hoadley.

The book will be available soon from the American Library Association in eBook and paperback editions. It will also be available through the the MLS Professional Collection.